Anzac Day will be commemorated at eight locations across the Redlands on Monday, 25 April.

Commemorations in Cleveland, Redland Bay, North Stradbroke Island, Macleay Island and Russell Island will be hosted by the Returned Services League (RSL), while those in Lamb, Karragarra and Coochiemudlo islands will be organised by local communities.

The following roads will be closed from midnight Sunday 24 April to 1pm Monday 25 April:

Councillors unanimously elected Cr Wendy Boglary as Redland City’s new Deputy Mayor at a Special Meeting today.

Division 1 Councillor since 2008, Cr Boglary said it was a huge honour to be chosen by her fellow Councillors.

“To have been elected by my community to serve my third term as Division 1 Councillor is a huge privilege; and now for the Mayor and my fellow Councillors to entrust me with the position of Deputy Mayor is truly humbling,” she said.

“Being Deputy Mayor is not something I take lightly and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities it will present.

“As the level of government closest to the community it is important Council reflects the needs of residents as a united and trustworthy team.

“I look forward to supporting the Mayor and Councillors and I truly believe that the Mayor and I together are a formidable team and our diversity of views only makes us stronger.”

Two weeks to go for the Redland City Council elections and state referendum on 19th March 2016.

Do you know yet who are the candidates in your Division? Are you even enrolled to vote this time? And which polling booths are available for you on the day?

These information are now available at MoretonBayIslands.com.

These are overlaid with information about the candidates: their background; how to follow them in social media and catch up with them on the campaign trail; their plans if elected to Council (and for the incumbents, their accomplishments to date); and how to contact them.

Finally, obtaining information about your candidates has just gotten so much easier.

These candidate information are assembled in a (free) one-page website-within-a-website for each candidate, who can use the site as a channel to reach their constituency. Conversely, electors can reach their candidates through the site. Both sides come together in one place (albeit virtually) for a direct dialogue (Q&A).

We have reached out to the candidates to complete their one-page profiles on the site (contact us at election2016@moretonbayislands.com). Many electors are still seeking information about their candidates. The site seeks to provide them with the information they need for an informed decision on election day.

A Queensland council has proposed stricter laws for dog owners in an effort to protect koala populations.

Redland City Council introduced “koala safe areas” in 2007 but hopes to expand those areas in 2016.

Photo: Penny Stephens

“Owners of properties greater than 2000m2 in these koala areas must ensure their dogs are denned or restrained at night or kept in a proper enclosure at all times if the amendment is adopted” said the council’s website in mid-February.

Brisbane City Council states on its website that “statistics from the [west Brisbane] Moggill Koala Hospital show that 80 percent of koalas attacked by dogs die from their injuries” however dog owners in Brisbane were not required to restrain their dogs at night.

Other councils across southeast Queensland including Ipswich, Gold Coast, Logan, Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay suggested dog owners keep dogs restrained at night but had not introduced laws on the matter.

Redland City Council mayor Karen Williams said the only negative feedback she had received on current laws was from owners of “guard dogs” who did not want to tie their dogs up at night or bring them inside.

She said koalas often needed to pass through residential backyards at night where they faced risks of dog attack.

The five proposed “koala safe area” expansions included parts of Capalaba, Birkdale, Thorneside and Thornlands as well as all three towns on northern Stradbroke Island (Point Lookout, Amity Point and Dunwich).

The proposal was open for feedback until March 15.

“Koala safe areas” were part of a broader Redland council plan to protect koalas that included environmental off-sets to counter habitat destruction during development; funding for a new chlamydia vaccine and identification of koala habitats through a sniffer dog named Maya trained to locate koala scats.

Southeast Queensland is home to the “koala coast” southeast of Brisbane, where a Queensland government survey found a 68 per cent decline in koala populations between 1999 and 2010.

South-east Queensland must find 700,000 homes for an extra 1.4 million people within 15 years, Australia’s pre-eminent infrastructure body says.

On Wednesday, Infrastructure Australia said if no key infrastructure projects were built in the south-east, the cost of waiting in traffic for commuters, small, medium and large businesses will escalate from $1.9 billion in 2011 to $9.2 billion by 2031.

Queensland’s population will grow to 6.4 million and south-east Queensland’s population will grow by 1.4 million in 15 years.

That is the blunt warning to Australian governments and industry organisations from Infrastructure Australia as it begins a major campaign to persuade governments they must commit to big infrastructure projects.

In addition, Engineers Australia Queensland infrastructure spokesman Chris Warnock, who in 1993 warned a second rail crossing of Brisbane River was needed by 2015, said successive Queensland state governments had been “missing in action” over infrastructure for the past “10 to 15 years”.

“It doesn’t matter who the government is,” Mr Warnock said.

“The emergence of a lot of major investment by Brisbane City Council in infrastructure (Clem7 tunnel, Go Between Bridge, Airport Link and Legacy Way tunnel) I would suggest is a direct consequence of the missing-in-action of the state governments,” he said.

On Wednesday, Infrastructure Australia identified “solutions” to Queensland’s share of the national problems of congestion, population growth and transport infrastructure.

The report supports “higher” density – seven to eight storeys – along transport routes, not high density at all costs and notes it is cheaper to bring water, transport and electricity to inner-city units ($26,500 per unit) than to a outer-Brisbane block ($69,000).

Infrastructure Australia chief executive Philip Davies hailed the research as “groundbreaking”, based on the project research as it was in 2015, new modelling and new congestion costs.

Mr Davies said the report recognised Australian capital cities need to look at 21st-century solutions.

“Australia’s largest cities should start planning for integrated, timetable-free, ‘turn up and go’ train and bus services – similar to that of New York, Singapore, London and Paris,” the report says.

“What we are going to release is a range of ‘solutions’, that is the physical future projects, but also reforms in how we do things and how we do things using the markets,” Mr Davies said.

Mr Davies said south-east Queensland would take the lion’s share of the population increase.

“And the consequence of that as ‘a worst-case scenario’ over the next 15 years is that the cost of congestion is going to increase from what we measured in 2011 as $1.9 billion a year to $9.2 billion in 2031.”

High priority projects – must start within five years

Ipswich Motorway – Rocklea to Darra section.

Pacific Motorway M1 – Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes.

Cross River Rail – extra rail line across the Brisbane River because existing rail bridge gets congested from 2016.

Lower Fitzroy River water infrastructure – raising the Eden Bann Weir on the Fitzroy River.

Upgrading 4.7 km of the Cunningham Highway from Yamanto to Ebenezer west of Ipswich.

Chris Warnock welcomed the report identifying the federal government must have a “a more active role” in the “governance of cities”.

“That is fantastic. That is a huge shift under Malcolm Turnbull, because under Tony Abbott and under John Howard before him, it just did not exist,” he said.

However Brisbane’s key project, the Cross River Rail has slipped from a High Priority “Project” to a High Priority “Initiative” because the federal government was still waiting on the new business case from the Palaszczuk government.

Mr Warnock said the slide in Cross River Rail’s priority was simply a tragedy of poor planning.

“And we are now having this discussion in February 2016, and it is now only a high-priority initiative and the federal government is still waiting for a business case to be submitted by the Queensland Government.”

“So you can see my frustration.”

Sydney and Melbourne now also have similar underground “metro rail” projects to Brisbane, the Infrastructure Australia list shows.

TWENTY-Nine people have been nominated to run as candidates for Redland City Council in next month’s local government election.

Returning officer Harold Guy, who has been running elections in Redlands since 2012, said candidate nominations were slightly up on the last election.

Nominations for the council’s 10 seats and mayor closed at midday on Tuesday.

Candidates will learn where their names fall on ballot papers when Mr Guy draws names out of a box at 10am on Wednesday.

Mayor Karen WIlliams and former council general manager Greg Underwood were the only two candidates for the position of mayor.

When electoral rolls closed on Friday, February 12, there were 101,714 people registered to vote on Saturday, March 19. That was up from the 93,402 people registered for the 2012 local government election.

Division 6 had the most number of voters registered with 10,953 and Division 9 had 9852 registered, which was the smallest electorate.

Across the city, there were 52,974 women enrolled compared with 48,740 men.

DIVISION 1: (Wellington Point, Ormiston, Cleveland north)

Two candidates will challenge sitting councillor Wendy Boglary, 54,who has held the seat since 2008. Wellington Point real estate agent Paul Branagan, 49, who was granted Australian citizenship in 2006 and 48-year-old housewife Corinne Tomasi.

DIVISION 2 (Cleveland, North Stradbroke Island)

Two candidates will challenge sitting councillor Craig Ogilvie, 50, who has held the seat since 2004. He will be up against Cleveland physiotherapist Peter Mitchell, 51, and computer analyst Tom Taranto, 58, a founding member of Redlands 2030 lobby group.

DIVISION 3: (Thornlands, Cleveland south)

This seat has attracted four candidates – the largest competition across the electorates. Incumbent Kim Hardman decided not to run again. Penny Donald, 45, who once worked for Bowman LNP MP Andrew Laming, will be up against artist Troy Robbins, 46; consultant 62-year-old Karyn Owen and retired army officer and project manager Paul Golle, 45.

DIVISION 4 (Victoria Point, Coochiemudlo, Thornlands, Redland Bay)

Sitting councillor Lance Hewlett, 54, will be up against retired real estate agent James Harling, 61.

DIVISION 5 (Redland Bay, southern bay islands)

Sitting councillor Mark Edwards will recontest the seat he has held since 2012 with a challenge from Redland Bay artist Junita Grosvenor, 58.

DIVISION 6 (Mount Cotton, Redland Bay, Thornlands, Sheldon)

Melanie Lavelle-Maloney, 50, a former council business contract holder will challenge incumbent Julie Talty, 50, who is the daughter of former councillor John Burns. The other runner is Redland Bay scientist Stephanie Eaton, 55.

DIVISION 7 (Alexandra Hills, Capalaba)

Incumbent Murray Elliott, 61, has been a councillor for more than 20 years and will recontest his seat, taking on Wellington Point swimming coach Janine Healy, 46, and Sharyn Doolan, 50, who does radio voice-overs.

DIVISION 8 (Birkdale South, Alexandra Hills, Cleveland)

Sitting member Alan Beard, 65, who acted as deputy mayor during the past term, is being challenged by the ALP’s Tracey Huges, 54, and former councillor Kathy Reimers, 49.

DIVISION 9 (Capalaba)

Metallurgist Jesse McNamara, 29, who has been aligned with the ALP, will challenge sitting councillor Paul Gleeson, 43, and was once a member of the LNP.

DIVISION 10 (Birkdale, Thorneside)

Wellington Point sales consultant Joy Stewart, who has had long-term connections with Redlands will challenge sitting councillor Paul Bishop

Prior to nominations closing, lobby group Redlands 2030 issued flyers indicating preferred candidates as Greg Underwood, Wendy Boglary, Craig Ogilvie, Paul Golle, who did not authorise his name to be on the flyer and said he was not aligned with any lobby group, Lance Hewlett, Melanie Lavelle-Moloney and Paul Bishop.

]]>https://coochiemudlo.moretonbayislands.com/2016/02/candidates-names-go-up-the-board/feed/0https://coochiemudlo.moretonbayislands.com/2016/02/candidates-names-go-up-the-board/Grants and support for community projects available now from Redland City Councilhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CoochiemudloIsland/~3/UDHFWLtMuKY/
http://moretonbayislands.com/2016/grants-support-for-projects-available-from-redland-city-council/#respondMon, 08 Feb 2016 00:09:00 +0000https://coochiemudlo.moretonbayislands.com/?p=10447

Redland City Council sponsorship is available for upcoming community initiatives, including events, projects, services or activities that are held in Redland City.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the latest round of sponsorship will open on 15 February and support initiatives to be held between July and December this year, with applications accepted until Friday 18 March.

“Last financial year, Council provided more than $500,000 in sponsorship and community grants, supporting a diverse range of events and initiatives that enriched the broader community,” she said.

“The inaugural Redlands Rockabilly Revival will have the Cleveland Showgrounds buzzing with cool hot rods, live music, retro market stalls, kids’ rides, delicious food and much more on Sunday 13 March thanks to Council sponsorship.

“We also sponsored the inaugural Quandamooka Festival last year, a three-month calendar of more than 60 events presented between July and September 2015 celebrating the traditional culture, country and people of the Redlands.

“While events enrich the cultural fabric of our city, we know they also provide economic benefits, attracting visitors from far and wide and putting our city on the map.”

Community and cultural spokesperson Cr Lance Hewlett said Council sponsorship attracted a rich diversity of events to the Redlands.

“From the strawberry eating competitions at RedFest, which has been part of our region for almost 60 years, to transporting a grand piano across Moreton Bay for last year’s Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival, Council supports a variety of events throughout the year,” he said.

“Cycling, triathlon and hockey were among the sports to benefit from recent Council sponsorship, with the Wynnum Redlands Cycling Festival, Raby Bay Triathlon and the 2015 U13 Girls State Hockey Championships among the events sponsored.

Applications for the next round of sponsorship will be accepted from 15 February until 18 March 2016 and will support community-based activities and events that provide measurable benefits for the community.

Residents are reminded that applications for the next round of community grants will close on 26 February, with funding available for Organisation support, Project support and Conservation initiatives.

Water play may become a feature of Redlands parks in the future following a decision by Redland City Council today to investigate options for installing water-based play equipment in the city.

Division six Councillor Julie Talty today called for a briefing paper about installing water-play equipment in playgrounds, citing the infrastructure was popular with local families, who currently visited water-play parks in surrounding cities.

“Imagine if we had water-play equipment in our city, interactive water features that would rival the beautiful whales at the Wynnum Water Park or the fantastic water fountains at Darlington Parklands, Yarrabilba,” she said.

“Throughout the school holidays, parents have travelled to these popular parks for their children to enjoy free water-based playgrounds and they’re questioning why we don’t have such community facilities locally. I agree with them – why not in the Redlands?

“Today’s decision is the first step and will investigate the type of water-play equipment available in neighbouring cities, how it works and the approximate cost to install and maintain it.”

A briefing paper about water-based play facilities in neighbouring cities will be returned to Council for consideration at a future workshop.

Cr Talty said Council would use the information to make an informed decision about the feasibility of pursuing the idea further.

“Modern playgrounds range from simple, prefabricated ‘plug and play’ designs to elaborate, custom-themed, iconic structures and it’s important we know the options before pursuing this idea further,” she said.

“From the River Heart Parklands in Ipswich to Brisbane’s Rocks Riverside Park and the Redcliffe Lagoon, the number of new and refurbished water-based playgrounds in neighbouring cities has grown in recent years.

“The fact that Redlands families are prepared to travel to visit these parks is testament to the popularity of this type of infrastructure.

“Enhancing our local parks with water-play equipment would ensure the Redlands is known as a destination of choice for families from near and far seeking a fun, affordable day out.”